from Hindustan. It does not appear that Mr. Traill was
informed respecting the .physical character, of the Rawats.
If they are aborigines of the country, it is by far most
probable that they resemble in physical 1 character :the
other numerous aboriginal tribes'Scattered along the Himalayan
border, and onee in possession of the whole of this
region. All these tribes have the physical character of,the
Bhotiyahs imgeneral, and are very unlike the Dorns.
Paragraph 2^-#Of the Paharias or Hill-Tribes ofGarhawal,
Sirmor, and Bisahur.
Between Kumau and the Sutlej are the_.provinces of
Garhawal, Sirmop,| and Bisahur. .These. Gauntries .are of
considerable extent and reach from the lower ‘plains ,far^®t0
the high and cold region of the Himalaya ; they -contain
districts which lie under a diversity of .‘.climates. - Bisahur
in particular is an jj extensive rajahship, comprehending
many states or smaller provinces ..on bath side$ppfy<tke-
Sutlej. The northern part of Bisahur ^ Kunawar,'which
reaches northward beyond the Snowy Range.: . Its;.inhabitants
are disciples of the Lamaite religion. O thers. hare
a language entirely different from that ••spoken- on the
southern; side of the great motmtain-chairi^ and which-^s
said also to differ, from the idiom of the^Bhotiyahs -of; the
^Chinese territory, that is, of Tibet. . .They are strongly
marked with features of the Tartar physiognomy, as,, it is
here termed; are brave, hardy, and independent, and display
frankness of countenance and manners, which strongly
distinguish them from the Hindoos? of the lower, country
to the southward of the mountains.*
The preceding account was that given by Mr. Fraser,
but we have a later description of Kunawar from the pen of
the late Captain Gerard. From his statement it appears
that the inhabitants are of two classes. The proper Kuna-
waris, in the southern districts of the country, are . of a
dark complexion, but handsome,—some of them have; ruddy
* Fraser, Page 262—265. .
faces. They- are of the Ilindd religion; but according to
Captain Gerard have a distinct language, which is called
Milchan, of., which there are different , dialects. Another
language, almost distinct, according to the somewhat vague
statement of Captain Gerard, is the Thaburshad, spoken at
Soongum. From this it'is impossible to determine whether
this tribe are Hindoos by descent or not. The people in the
higher and northern tracts are Bhotiyahs and worshippers of
the Lama. They are tall, nearly six feet’in height, stout
and .muscular; their countenances ruddy, , with small oblong
eyes;Jjigh cheek-bones arid thin eye-brows, arid very few
have either mustachos or berirds.. They are frank and open
4$. their manners, and a« race much,, superior to the inhabitants
o*f the {plains, in India.*
IndBisahur the-mountain Hindoos*, who are here termed
Paharias, or (People* of the Hills,, have^omewhat of the bold
and hardy, character which is supposed toibelong to mountaineers
in general. Mr...Fraser has likewise remarked
that the-women iprthe^higher parts of Bisahur are handsome
and have’fair complexions.
If SiTmor and Garhawal also Cbntain districts of very differe
n t, climate.;« the upper provincesdying in a .cold region, of
which the temperature might be*: compared to that of
W-prway, while the ?southern parts approach the plains of
Hindustan. Here an opportunity occurs that is not to be
ifeglected oft observing what .i s ^ e effect, of^lirnate on :thg|
physical constitution, and parti,cularly- on the complexion of
dhe Hindu race, and I shall therefore, cite verbatim the
^description given Mr. Fraser of these two divisions of
the same people. g
Ainong the people of these hill-countries, who are of. the,
Indian race, the constitution s of, ■, society, the division, of the
community into -castes* their language and. religion, are
nearly as in> lower Hindustan., Mr. Fraser assures us that
“ the inhabitants of,the high region as well as those near the
plains are Hindoos, and worship the Ilindd gods.” ( The
principal castes into which the. people of the hills in these
* A ccount'of’Koonhwar in the Himalaya, by the late Captain Alexander
Gerard. London, Maddox and Co., 1841.